My rating: 4 of 5 starsThis was the book that had me crying on the bus. Thanks Joanna for the recommendation. I really enjoyed reading this book. Even though the narrator (Death) informed us in advance what was going to happen I was still devastated at the end of the book. My favorite theft of a book (which might not count) was when the pages of Mein Kempf were white washed and written over.

My rating: 3 of 5 starsQuite the melodramatic romance. The villain even wears black and he would be twirling his mustache if he had one (though I sometimes enjoyed his character). The basic plot is that the hero takes the blame for his cheating little brother and goes into self-imposed exile. The hero returns, with several identities. He is now both a highway man and a dandy. I have never read so much about men preening, powdering, and worrying about their outfit then in this book but I suppose that more has to do with the time period. Hero saves lady fair from the villain while he is trying to kidnap her from her carriage. She beautifully struggles while two men hold her back during the sword fight. And of course lady fair and hero fall in love while he recovers from his injuries from saving her.

I disliked the ending. Mr. Villain (The Black Moth) successfully captures the lady fair and plans marry (and *cough* you know) against her will. There is a huge confrontation with the hero and several other characters. Hero wins, villain shrugs and invites them all to dinner because it turns out he is an old friend. No punishment or care.

My favorite characters were a married couple (O’Hares? Can they be considered favorites if I cannot remember their names?) who were extremely devoted and adorable.